Editorial: Youth Challenge Academy deserves local support

Few people are willing to fight for alternative education, and that's a shame. Alternative schools are a lifeline for young people who have run out of options in traditional classrooms, but because they most often serve kids from low-income communities and families, these schools often lack the political clout necessary to survive economic downturns.

The Michigan Youth Challenge Academy has always been an exception. In its 14 years, the academy has seen its share of challenges, but community leaders and local legislators have always gone to bat to ensure the program remains in operation. They've always been successful.

There's a reason for that - the program works, and people see the results. You likely have encountered MYCA participants volunteering at various community events, where their polite, precise demeanor often sets them apart.

That may soon change. We learned this week that Battle Creek Public Schools has decided against seeking a contract to continue providing educational services and managing the finances of the alternative, which is affiliated with the National Guard. The decision means there is no guarantee that the academy will stay in Battle Creek, and it likely means that five teachers - all employees of Battle Creek Public Schools - will be out of a job.

The decision came as something of a surprise, given the high regard with which the program is held and the lack of any extensive public discussions about alternatives. School board members cited a financial shortfall and falling enrollment at the academy, although the academy director disputed both of those claims.

Command Sgt. Major Jim Luce provided a budget document that shows the district operated the program at a surplus, although that has shrunk in recent years.

BCPS Board President Susan Evans said the program would cost the district $168,697, which Luce flatly denies.

"I think they manufactured it," Luce said Tuesday.

All things being equal, Luce said his preference would have been to continue the academy's relationship with BCPS, but there seem to be little will on the district's end.

That's a shame. The academy has an excellent track record, and it would be nice to keep the program in Battle Creek, where dropout rates remain unacceptably high. About 90 percent of the students who complete the program - many of them from our community - go on to jobs, further schooling or the military. That sounds like a program worth keeping.

The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs issued its request for proposals for a new contractor on May 22, and districts have until Friday to submit a bid. It's our hope that another local district enters a successful bid and our community keeps this asset, but ultimately we just want to see the academy flourish wherever it lands.

The Youth Challenge Academy is a demanding program that requires commitment from its students, but it needs - and deserves - the commitment of its home community, as well.

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Editorial: Youth Challenge Academy deserves local support

Few people are willing to fight for alternative education, and that's a shame.